2020 Rose Bowl Picks – Oregon vs Wisconsin Prediction in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual: College football’s oldest bowl game will add another chapter to its storied legacy when the sixth-ranked Oregon Ducks meet the eighth-ranked Wisconsin Badgers in a classic showdown between the Pac-12 and Big 10 in the 2019 Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual.
These two teams are remarkably similar on paper. The Ducks are scoring 35.9 points per game and average 450.7 yards of offense while the Badgers average 34.6 points and 441.8 yards of offense per game. Meanwhile, both sides rank in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, sacks and rush defense. Where these two teams do differ is in offensive philosophy. Oregon leans on star quarterback Justin Herbert and the passing attack, but Wisconsin prefers to pound the ball on the ground with Jonathan Taylor, who enters the game second in the country in rushing and has scored 26 times.
2020 Rose Bowl Picks – Oregon vs Wisconsin Prediction in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual
The Ducks Win If:
If the Ducks are going to come away with the win, they need to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball. It starts with their defensive front slowing Taylor and Wisconsin’s power rushing attack, especially on early downs. The Badgers are tough when Taylor gets going because it allows them to control the pace and wear down opponents. If Oregon can put the pressure on Wisconsin quarterback Jack Coan to make plays, the Ducks should be in great shape. On the flip side, they need to give Herbert a clean pocket to work with. The likely first-round pick can carve up just about any defense when he has time to throw. If this game comes down to which quarterback can make the most big plays and big plays, the Ducks will be in the driver’s seat.
The Badgers Win If:
For Wisconsin to emerge victorious, the Badgers need to establish Taylor early and be the more physical team. Oregon’s biggest strength is Herbert, and Wisconsin’s biggest weakness is Coan. The Badgers can’t afford to be facing third-and-longs on a routine basis, and they certainly can’t afford to dig themselves an early deficit. If Taylor gets rolling, the Badgers can do what they do best and punish Oregon’s defense into submission, protect Coan and keep Herbert sitting on the sidelines. When the Ducks do have the ball, pressuring Herbert will be crucial. He has elite arm talent and can take the top off of any defense, but even a great quarterback can look average when they are constantly scrambling and under pressure. If the Badgers are going to get beat, they can’t let Herbert be the reason.
Bottom Line:
This game figures to be a war in the trenches, and while Wisconsin has the reputation of being one of the most physical programs in the country, the Ducks have excellent offensive and defensive lines in their own right. Don’t forget that Oregon went toe-to-toe with a physical Auburn defense in a game the Ducks probably should have won, and they absolutely dominated a Utah team with one of the best defensive fronts in the country in the Pac-12 title game. I think the Ducks will hold their own up front, allowing Herbert to be the difference in the game.
Prediction: Oregon Ducks (+3) Cover the Spread
